Eldritch Horror Theatre - Ch. 27: Crimson Fever
In a narrow room where a fight could break out at any moment, a certain man suddenly ripped his shirt off.
Shadow Nightmare's action was undoubtedly very startling, making Fu Qian frown.
What was even more startling was the body exposed when he tore his clothes.
Cobweb-like dark red blood lines covered his entire upper body, deeply carved into every piece of flesh and blood.
With every breath he took, the blood lines wriggled slightly, as if they could come alive and take flight at any moment.
"Crimson Fever!"
At this moment, Tan Mingxue yelled from behind.
"As expected of Group Leader Tan, able to recognize it at a glance."
Shadow Nightmare looked incredibly smug, shooting Fu Qian a provocative smile.
"This should help you calm down? Your Excellency Hermit Expert of unknown origin."
"It doesn't."
Fu Qian ruthlessly cracked his wrists.
"If you don't have anything else to say, consider that your last words."
"Wait a minute!"
This time, it was Shadow Nightmare and Tan Mingxue shouting together.
Seeing that Fu Qian was truly preparing to kill, the two's reactions were astonishingly identical.
The smile on Shadow Nightmare's face had frozen.
"Are you crazy? You'd rather perish together just to kill me?"
"Are you trying to get us all killed?"
Tan Mingxue was also shocked and furious.
"If you kill him, once the Crimson Fever spreads, we'll all die!"
"Is this thing that powerful?"
Fu Qian frowned.
"You don't even recognize Crimson Fever?"
Tan Mingxue's mouth gaped wide as she looked at Fu Qian in disbelief.
"I don't. I thought he took his clothes off so I could see his scars, to tell me that he fights while wounded and is strong-willed despite his disabilities."
Strong-willed despite disabilities my ass!
Tan Mingxue and Shadow Nightmare both coughed blood internally.
"Crimson Fever, you can consider it a poison, and also a Curse."
Finally calming her emotions, Tan Mingxue spoke quickly.
"As long as you are infected with this thing, the blood in your whole body will gradually heat up until it boils.
And as the flesh and blood throughout the body rots, the blood vessels will gradually migrate to the body's surface, forming this kind of blood-colored cobweb. It is said that if the host is strong enough, these veins will detach completely after their death, becoming an independent entity, and even possessing the characteristics of being truly alive."
"This thing is extremely infectious. If you kill him here, it will instantly fill the entire space, and none of us will be able to escape then."
"However, it's not entirely without benefits. After being infected with this thing, speed, strength, and all aspects of combat power will be greatly enhanced, acting to a certain extent like a stimulant."
Taking a deep breath, Tan Mingxue looked at Shadow Nightmare.
"As expected of the renowned Shadow of Annihilation, to actually manage to get your hands on this kind of thing!"
"This thing was very expensive and cost me a lot of effort. I didn't plan to use it here originally."
Finding someone who understood his worth, Tan Mingxue's words finally let Shadow Nightmare recover a bit of his confidence, and he snorted.
"Unfortunately, an unexpected variable appeared. I had no choice but to use it as an insurance policy."
"Doing this, didn't you consider the consequences?"
Tan Mingxue gritted her teeth.
"Don't worry. Since I dared to use it, I inevitably have foolproof countermeasures. Once I send her on her way, I have plenty of time to resolve this trouble."
Shadow Nightmare pointed a finger at Wen Li, but his face was looking at Fu Qian.
"Shadow of Annihilation, sounds like a group?"
Fu Qian ignored him and looked at Tan Mingxue.
"That's right, a famous assassin group. All three of them are Beyonders. They've committed many massacres and have always been on the Night Watchers' wanted list."
"Let me think, is there also a Stone Man who can enlarge his whole body, and a certain professional adept at Hypnosis and poisoning?"
"Yes, the three of them always act together. Among them, Shadow Nightmare is the absolute core."
"I see, then it all matches up."
Fu Qian nodded in satisfaction.
You three brothers owe me way too much Sanity Value.
"Even though I don't know where you popped out from... you are undeniably strong. I admit I am not your opponent, even with the addition of Crimson Fever."
Shadow Nightmare looked at Fu Qian.
"But now, the initiative is back in my hands."
"I also have to thank you for bringing her here, allowing Crimson Fever to reach its maximum effectiveness."
"Now you only have two choices: step aside and let me kill Wen Li, or kill me and we'll all be buried together, and Wen Li will still die."
"I think even a child could make this multiple-choice decision."
"Of course, we could also just remain in this standoff. In an hour at most, the Crimson Fever on my body will erupt, and the outcome will still be the same then."
"Did you hear that?"
After Shadow Nightmare finished his long speech, Fu Qian instead turned his head and shouted at Wen Li.
"You're going to die, how does it feel?"
...
Wen Li's body trembled again, and she could barely stand even while leaning against the wall.
Of course she felt terrible.
Too many things had happened today.
Since just now, a series of changes had occurred at lightning speed, and her emotions were like a roller coaster.
First poisoned, then saved, then held hostage by the person who saved her, and then told she only had one day to live.
Fortunately, the Night Watchers came to the rescue in time, but the person holding her hostage was simply too strong. Finally, reinforcements arrived, bringing hope, only for it to turn out that the other Night Watcher was an assassin in disguise.
Now she was firmly trapped in a certain-death situation. For a moment, she was thoroughly in despair and physically and mentally exhausted.
"What is the feeling of waiting for death? Tell me."
"Fear, and perhaps a sliver of relief."
Wen Li took a breath, her voice trembling.
"You can mock this weakness, but I am not a strong person accustomed to life and death like you. Please forgive me for not being able to face it calmly."
"Very good. You are honest enough."
Fu Qian didn't mock her as expected; instead, he offered a compliment.
"Next, watch closely."
The next moment, Fu Qian's figure disappeared from where he stood.
You...
A strong sense of crisis surged. Shadow Nightmare didn't even have time to dodge before his neck was grabbed by a hand like an iron vise, and his entire body was slammed against the wall behind him with a crash.
"Fu Qian, don't be impulsive."
This scene instantly turned Tan Mingxue's face ashen, and she subconsciously took a few steps back.
"Qi Xue will bring people here soon."
"Stop deceiving yourself."
"No one outside can hear what we're saying in here. Are you sure that after this 'Qi Xue' arrived, they would still look for the Night Watchers?"
...
"Now, do you want to hear my opinion?"
Grabbing Shadow Nightmare's neck, Fu Qian slowly lifted him into mid-air with a smile on his face.
"Using mutually assured destruction as a bargaining chip to complete the mission looks very courageous. Unfortunately, your fearlessness of death is built upon the assumption that you absolutely won't die."
"That is an entirely different matter from truly not fearing death."
"Look at yourself now. Even though you've fallen into my hands, you subconsciously dare not resist, terrified that the thing on your body will explode. Did this help you recognize your true nature?"
Fu Qian tightened his grip, and the blood-colored veins on Shadow Nightmare's body convulsed continuously, seeming ready to burst at any moment.
"We... can talk... talk..."
Using the last bit of his strength, Shadow Nightmare barely spat out a few words.
"...mutually assured destruction... is unnecessary..."
"You still don't understand."
"It is necessary, highly necessary."
Fu Qian shook his head as he looked at Wen Li.
"Do you understand now?"
"I..."
The fear of dying at any second stirred within Wen Li's heart.
However, seeing the previously arrogant Shadow Nightmare being grabbed like a dog gave her an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.
Feeling her violently changing emotions.
The next moment, Wen Li fell into a strange tranquility.
"I... think I understand."
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